Media content delivery

ABSTRACT

A server can receive information identifying media content to be offered to users at a discount or at a particular time of release. The offer can also include information identifying a minimum number of acceptances by users needed for the offer to be valid. During a predetermined period, if the number of acceptances has reached or exceeded the minimum number needed, the server may transmit a media stream containing the media content to the users. Furthermore, the offer may include multiple tiers of discounts and/or times of release.

BACKGROUND

In order to promote sales, businesses create discount offers for goodsand services. As discount services become more and more popular, it maybe desirable to develop and implement more convenient, dynamic andcustomizable ways of offering and delivering discounts to users.

SUMMARY

Some of the various features described herein relate to offering anddelivering a media content offer. In some embodiments, a server, such asa content processing server, may receive information identifying an itemof media content and a time of release for the item of media content.The server may also receive information identifying a correspondingminimum number of acceptances required for the time of release to bevalid. The information identifying the time of release may includeinformation identifying multiple times of release, where each time ofrelease corresponds to a different minimum number of acceptances. Priorto the time of release, the server may receive acceptance messages froma plurality of users, the acceptance messages indicating thatcorresponding users desire to access the media content at the time ofrelease for the item of media content. If a number of acceptancemessages has met or exceeded a minimum number of acceptances required,the server may transmit, or direct an associated computing device totransmit, one or more media streams containing the item of media contentto the corresponding users.

In some embodiments, an item of media content may be a theatricalrelease of a movie, and the one or more media streams may be one or morevideo on demand sessions carrying the movie. Furthermore, the one ormore video on demand sessions may be made available for transmissionprior to the theatrical release date of the movie, such as a week priorto the theatrical release date. The one or more video on demand sessionsmay be a multicast video session.

In some embodiments, a server may receive information identifying agroup pricing discount for an item of media content, the informationidentifying a group pricing discount identifying a plurality of groupdiscount tiers. Furthermore, each group discount tier may include adifferent minimum number of acceptances and corresponding discount.

In some embodiments, a server may group, in response to a user'srequest, a subset of acceptances into a media content temporary viewinggroup for the user. For example, the temporary viewing group may includea plurality of other users associated with the requesting user via asocial networking service. Furthermore, the server may transmit the itemof media content as, for example, a multicast transmission to members ofthe temporary viewing group. Playback navigation controls by one memberof the group may be shared with viewing devices of other members of thegroup during the multicast transmission.

In some embodiments, the server may make available for retransmissionmedia content to one or more of the users after an initially making thecontent available for transmission and limit users to a time window forretransmissions. The server may also determine a number of times a firstuser has accessed the item of media content during a time window, and inresponse to the first user accessing the item of media content more thana predetermined minimum retransmission amount during the time window,transmit an offer message to the first user for purchasing a copy of theitem of media content.

In some embodiments, the server may determine that one or morepreferences for a plurality of users match the item of media content andtransmit an offer for a discount price and time of release to theplurality of users having preferences that match the item of mediacontent. Furthermore, user preferences may include, for example, a genrepreselected by the user, a genre of an item of media content previouslypurchased or viewed by the user, and one or more preferences derivedfrom a social media account associated with the user.

This summary is not intended to identify critical or essential featuresof the disclosures herein, but instead merely summarizes certainfeatures and variations thereof. Other details and features will also bedescribed in the sections that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some features herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example information access and distributionnetwork.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example hardware platform on which the variouselements described herein can be implemented.

FIGS. 3A-D illustrate an example method of offering, processing, andtransmitting content according to one or more illustrative aspects ofthe disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method of identifying a group of users toreceive a media content offer according to one or more illustrativeaspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method of processing a content offeraccording to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example information access and distributionnetwork 100 on which many of the various features described herein maybe implemented. Network 100 may be any type of information distributionnetwork, such as satellite, telephone, cellular, wireless, etc. Oneexample may be an optical fiber network, a coaxial cable network or ahybrid fiber/coax (HFC) distribution network. Such networks 100 use aseries of interconnected communication lines 101 (e.g., coaxial cables,optical fibers, wireless, etc.) to connect multiple homes 102 to acentral office or headend 103. The headend 103 may transmit downstreaminformation signals onto the lines 101, and each home 102 may have areceiver used to receive and process those signals.

There may be one line 101 originating from the central office 103, andit may be split a number of times to distribute the signal to varioushomes 102 in the vicinity (which may be many miles) of the centraloffice 103. Although the term home is used by way of example, locations102 may be any type of user premises, such as businesses, institutions,etc. The lines 101 may include components not illustrated, such assplitters, filters, amplifiers, etc. to help convey the signal clearly,but in general each split introduces a bit of signal degradation.Portions of the lines 101 may also be implemented with fiber-opticcable, while other portions may be implemented with coaxial cable, otherlines, or wireless communication paths.

The central office 103 may include a termination system (TS) 104, suchas a cable modem termination system (CMTS), which may be a computingdevice configured to manage communications between devices on thenetwork of lines 101 and backend devices such as servers 105-107 (to bediscussed further below). The TS may be as specified in a standard, suchas, in an example of an HFC-type network, the Data Over Cable ServiceInterface Specification (DOCSIS) standard, published by Cable TelevisionLaboratories, Inc. (a.k.a. CableLabs), or it may be a similar ormodified device instead. The TS may be configured to place data on oneor more downstream channels or frequencies to be received by devices,such as modems at the various homes 102, and to receive upstreamcommunications from those modems on one or more upstream frequencies.The central office 103 may also include one or more network interfaces108, which can permit the central office 103 to communicate with variousother external networks 109. These networks 109 may include, forexample, networks of Internet devices, telephone networks, cellulartelephone networks, fiber optic networks, local wireless networks (e.g.,WiMAX), satellite networks, and any other desired network, and theinterface 108 may include the corresponding circuitry needed tocommunicate on the network 109, and to other devices on the network suchas a cellular telephone network and its corresponding cell phones.

As noted above, the central office 103 may include a variety of servers105-107 that may be configured to perform various functions. Forexample, the central office 103 may include a push notification server105. The push notification server 105 may generate push notifications todeliver data and/or commands to the various homes 102 in the network (ormore specifically, to the devices in the homes 102 that are configuredto detect such notifications). The central office 103 may also include acontent server 106. The content server 106 may be one or more computingdevices that are configured to provide content to users in the homes.This content may be, for example, video on demand movies, televisionprograms, songs, text listings, etc. The content server 106 may includesoftware to validate user identities and entitlements, locate andretrieve requested content, encrypt the content, and initiate delivery(e.g., streaming) of the content to the requesting user and/or device.

The central office 103 may also include one or more application servers107. An application server 107 may be a computing device configured tooffer any desired service, and may run various languages and operatingsystems (e.g., servlets and JSP pages running on Tomcat/MySQL, OSX, BSD,Ubuntu, Redhat, HTMLS, JavaScript, AJAX and COMET). For example, anapplication server may be responsible for collecting data such astelevision program listings information and generating a data downloadfor electronic program guide listings. Another application server may beresponsible for monitoring user viewing habits and collecting thatinformation for use in selecting advertisements. Another applicationserver may be responsible for formatting and inserting advertisements ina video stream being transmitted to the homes 102. And as will bediscussed in greater detail below, another application server may beresponsible for receiving user remote control commands, and processingthem to provide an intelligent remote control experience.

An example home 102 a may include an interface 120. The interface maycomprise a device 110, such as a modem, which may include transmittersand receivers used to communicate on the lines 101 and with the centraloffice 103. The device 110 may be, for example, a coaxial cable modem(for coaxial cable lines 101), a fiber interface node (for fiber opticlines 101), or any other desired modem device. The device 110 may beconnected to, or be a part of, a gateway interface device 111. Thegateway interface device 111 may be a computing device that communicateswith the device 110 to allow one or more other devices in the home tocommunicate with the central office 103 and other devices beyond thecentral office. The gateway 111 may be a set-top box (STB), digitalvideo recorder (DVR), computer server, or any other desired computingdevice. The gateway 111 may also include (not shown) local networkinterfaces to provide communication signals to devices in the home, suchas televisions 112, additional STBs 113, personal computers 114, laptopcomputers 115, wireless devices 116 (wireless laptops and netbooks,mobile phones, mobile televisions, personal digital assistants (PDA),etc.), and any other desired devices. Examples of the local networkinterfaces include Multimedia Over Coax Alliance (MoCA) interfaces,Ethernet interfaces, universal serial bus (USB) interfaces, wirelessinterfaces (e.g., IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth interfaces, and others.

FIG. 2 illustrates general hardware elements that can be used toimplement any of the various computing devices discussed herein. Thecomputing device 200 may include one or more processors 201, which mayexecute instructions of a computer program to perform any of thefeatures described herein. The instructions may be stored in any type ofcomputer-readable medium or memory, to configure the operation of theprocessor 201. For example, instructions may be stored in a read-onlymemory (ROM) 202, random access memory (RAM) 203, hard drive, removablemedia 204, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive, compact disk (CD)or digital versatile disk (DVD), floppy disk drive, or any other desiredelectronic storage medium. Instructions may also be stored in anattached (or internal) hard drive 205. The computing device 200 mayinclude one or more output devices, such as a display 206 (or anexternal television), and may include one or more output devicecontrollers 207, such as a video processor. There may also be one ormore user input devices 208, such as a remote control, keyboard, mouse,touch screen, microphone, etc. The computing device 200 may also includeone or more network interfaces, such as input/output circuits 209 (suchas a network card) to communicate with an external network 210. Thenetwork interface may be a wired interface, wireless interface, or acombination of the two. In some embodiments, the interface 209 mayinclude a modem (e.g., a cable modem), and network 210 may include thecommunication lines 101 discussed above, the external network 109, anin-home network, a provider's wireless, coaxial, fiber, or hybridfiber/coaxial distribution system (e.g., a DOCSIS network), or any otherdesired network.

FIGS. 3A-D illustrate an example process for providing content to one ormore users. The steps may, but need not, all be performed by the samecomputing device, such as one of the servers 105-107 (which, in turn,can be implemented using the computing device 200 described above). Theexample process for providing media content will be described, as anon-limiting example, as being performed by content server 106.

In step 301, a device such as content server 106 may receive one or moreoffer(s) for item(s) of content from a party such as a content supplier.The offer may be delivered as a transmitted data structure thatincludes, for example, one or more of media content, informationidentifying the media content, and information identifying one or moretiers for the advance release of the media content. If tiers arepresent, each tier can identify a threshold number of acceptancesrequired for the tier to be valid, and a time of release and/or discountprice that is effective if the tier is valid. The offer may also includeinformation identifying one or more recipient groups of the mediacontent offer (e.g., recipient groups based on geography, social media,genre, and/or particular user preferences) and information identifyingwhether a media content offer will include selecting media content fromone or more media content. Information contained in the transmitted datastructure may be stored by the content server 106 and will be explainedin detail with respect to the examples described below.

Types of content may include, but are not limited to, audio content,video content, audiovisual content, and other data content. Furthermore,the content may be streaming media, such as streaming audio, video,audiovisual or other data content. As disclosed in further detail in theexamples below, streaming media may be delivered by a streaming providerto one or more end-user devices. Alternatively, the content may bedownloaded to one or more end-user devices or to any other deviceslocated or associated, for example, with a home 102. Examples of audiocontent include, but are not limited to, recorded, streaming, or livemusic, book recordings, live or recorded lectures, audio contentextracted from audiovisual content, etc. Examples of video contentinclude, but are not limited to, movies, sneak preview trailers,interviews with cast or crew, behind the scenes footage, televisionshows, lectures, concerts, operas, etc. In particular, movie contentmay, for example, include a theatrical release of a movie, a DVD releaseof a movie, a video on demand (VOD) release of a movie, and an online ondemand release of a movie. Content suppliers may include, but are notlimited to, movie studios, producers, musicians, developers and anyperson or entity that owns or licenses the content. As a non-limitingexample, a content supplier may be a movie studio, and content may be apre-release theatrical movie.

In step 302, the content server 106 may store, in one or more datastorage locations, one or more media content received in the transmitteddata structure from a content supplier. For example, a video filecontaining a movie can be downloaded to the server 106 for storage priorto the release time. Alternatively, the content server 106 may storeinformation identifying the one or more offered media content, ratherthan the one or more media content itself. Data storage locations mayinclude, for example, a location within central office 103, a dedicatedstorage location within the network 109, or another central storagelocation that may be accessed by one or more central offices 103.

In some embodiments, the content may be associated with a time ofrelease (which can be a time of day, calendar date, day of week, or anyother desired point in time). For example, theatrical release moviesoften have a first date on which theatres are permitted to begin showingthe movie to patrons (e.g., movie release night, movie release time,etc.). Musical releases commonly have a first date on which the songsare made available on the radio, or for purchase or download. A givenpiece of content can have multiple release dates, for different stagesof release. For example, a theatrical release movie may also have asecond date on which the movie is available for rental on DVD and/orpay-per-view on demand viewing, and a third date on which the movie istransmitted on a pay service (e.g., Home Box Office (HBO)).

In step 303, the content server 106 may store (or otherwise retain foraccess) in one or more storage locations information indicating the timeof release of the one or more media content, received in the transmitteddata structure from a content supplier. The time of release informationmay include information indicating when the media content will bereleased to the general public, a recipient group, or any other group,as disclosed in further detail in the examples below.

The time of release information may also include information identifyingone or more recipient groups of individuals who are to receive one ormore different times of release. For example, the time of releaseinformation may indicate separate times of release of the media contentfor the general public and for a select group of individuals, where theselect group of individuals may be a recipient group and includeindividuals registered with a service provided by an entity that owns oroperates the content server 106. For example, the time of release forthe recipient group (e.g., individuals registered with a particularservice) may be a time prior to the theatrical release date or time of amovie, such as a pre-release date, and the time of release for thegeneral public may be the theatrical release date of a movie. As anothernon-limiting example, the time of release may correspond to thetheatrical release date of a movie. In this example, a recipient groupand the general public may have an opportunity to view media content onthe theatrical release date of the movie. However, the recipient groupmay benefit from a service (e.g., a provider's service) by viewing, forexample, the theatrical release of a movie from their own homes and/orend-user devices. Furthermore, the theatrical release of the movie maybe offered at a discounted price (e.g., cheaper than purchasing a movietheater ticket) to the select group of individuals. Additionally, timeof release may be based on an event (e.g., a holiday or sports event).In some embodiments, one or more media content may be released apredetermined amount of time (e.g., 24 hours) after the Super Bowl. Forexample, the media content may be a replay of the super bowl, a sportsmovie, etc. In other embodiments, one or more media content may bereleased on a holiday or holiday weekend, such as Fourth of JulyWeekend.

The time of release may also take into account the time zone orgeographic location of one or more central offices 103 and/or homes 102.As a non-limiting example, the time of release may be July 5^(th) at 8P.M. EST. As another non-limiting example, the time of release may be 8P.M. EST for central offices 103 and homes 102 located in EasternStandard Time zones and 7 P.M. CST for central offices 103 and homes 102located in Central Standard Time zones. Any other combination of timezone and geographic location is possible. The time of release may alsovary based on other factors, as disclosed in further detail in theexamples below.

In step 304, the server may determine whether multiple tiers of time ofrelease exist. Whether a time of release is tiered may be indicated, forexample, in the media content offer received in the transmitted datastructure from a media content supplier (e.g., at step 301). Time ofrelease tiers may vary based on many factors, including the number ofend users or content consumers that accept an offer to consume one ormore media content. For example, the more the acceptances, the earlierthe time of release. One or more tiers for the time of release mayexist. As a non-limiting example, in a single tier time of releasesystem, the one or more media content may be released on July 5^(th) if500 end users or content consumers have accepted an offer by July 5^(th)or a predetermined time prior to July 5^(th). In a double tier time ofrelease system, the one or more media content may be released on July3^(rd) if 800 end users or content consumers have accepted an offer byJuly 3^(rd) or a predetermined time prior to July 3^(rd) and on July5^(th) if 500 end users or content consumers have accepted an offer byJuly 5^(th) or a predetermined time prior to July 5^(th). The tieredtime of release structure may include any number of tiers.

Time of release tiers may also vary based on user history. In someembodiments, time of release may depend on the number of times a userhas utilized the media content delivery system (e.g., accepted a mediacontent offer). For example, the greater the number of times a user hasutilized the media content delivery system, the earlier the time ofrelease. As a non-limiting example, in a triple tier time of releasesystem, the one or more media content may be released on July 3^(rd) foracceptor-users that have previously accepted at least ten media contentoffers, on July 5^(th) for acceptor-users that have previously acceptedbetween five and ten media content offers, and on July 7^(th) foracceptor-users that have previously accepted fewer than five mediacontent offers. In other embodiments, time of release may depend on apoint-rewards system, where users may accumulate points for actions theymay take that are associated with a service provider system. Actions mayinclude, but are not limited to, providing a rating for a previouslyviewed movie, purchasing service provider merchandise, previouslyaccepting a media content offer, recommending content to other users,etc. Predetermined number of points may be associated with each action.For example, if a user provides a rating for a previously viewed movie,the media content delivery system may award the user five points. If auser accepts a media content offer, the system may award the user tenpoints. Furthermore, the media content delivery system may accumulateand store points for each user. Accordingly, the server may determinethe time of release based on the number of points each acceptor-user hasaccumulated. As a non-limiting example, in a double tier time of releasesystem, the one or more media content may be released on July 3^(rd) foracceptor-users that have accumulated at least fifteen points and July5^(th) for acceptor-users that have accumulated at least seven points.These tiered time of release structures may include any number of tiers.

Furthermore, a tiered time of release may allow the user to choose atime of release from multiple times of release. For example, a user mayhave a choice of times of release ranging from the earliest time ofrelease based on the number of acceptances to any number of later timesof release. In the above example, if 800 end users have accepted anoffer by July 3^(rd), all of the acceptor-users may be offered theoption to consume the content on July 3^(rd) (e.g., 800 or moreselections) or July 5^(th) (e.g., 500 or more selections).Alternatively, acceptor-users may have a time range to consume thecontent, the earliest of which may be the earliest time of release basedon the number of acceptances. In the above example, if 800 end usershave accepted an offer by July 3^(rd), all of the acceptor-users may beoffered the option to consume the content one or more times between July3^(rd) and July 5^(th). In step 305, the server may store, in one ormore data storage locations, the one or more tiered times of release.

In step 306, the server stores, in one or more data storage locations,information identifying the conditions that are to be satisfied beforethe corresponding time of release is valid (e.g., for media content tobe transmitted to acceptor-users). Conditions may include a number ofacceptances needed for a time of release to be valid and may beindicated, for example, in the media content offer received in thetransmitted data structure from a content supplier. In some embodiments,conditions may be based on a potential exposure of one or more mediacontent, time frame (e.g., release time, duration of time window forconsumption, etc.) of the content, projected revenue of the content,etc.

In step 307, the server may determine whether discount tiers exist.Discount tiers may be similar to the different times of release notedabove, but instead of (or in addition to) identifying a different timeof release, the discount tiers can identify one or more price discounts,rebates, or other incentives to users. Whether discount tiers exist maybe indicated, for example, in the media content offer received in thetransmitted data structure from a content supplier. Discount tiers maydepend on many factors, including, for example, the number of end usersor content consumers that accept an offer to consume one or more mediacontent. For example, the more the acceptances, the greater a discount.One or more tiers for discounts may exist. As a non-limiting example, ina single tier discount system, the one or more media content may beoffered at $7 if 500 end users or content consumers have accepted themedia content offer. In a double tier discount structure, the one ormore media content may be offered at $6 if 800 end users or contentconsumers have accepted the media content offer and $7 if 500 end usersor content consumers have accepted the media content offer. The discountstructure may include any number of tiers. In step 308, the server maystore, in one or more data storage locations, information identifyingone or more discount tiers. In step 309, the server may store, in one ormore data storage locations, information identifying a correspondingdiscount for each of the one or more discount tiers, each discount beingdifferent. In step 310, the server may store, in one or more datastorage locations, information identifying a minimum number ofacceptances by end users and content consumers needed for each discounttier, each minimum number of acceptances being different.

In step 311, the server identifies a group of users to receive a mediacontent offer. A recipient group may include, but is not limited to,individuals registered with the content server 106, a service providedby the content server 106, an entity that owns or operates the contentserver 106, an entity that owns or operates a service associated withthe content server 106, a social media group, a professional group, oran affinity group. As noted above, the recipient group may be identifiedin the transmitted data structure from the content supplier. FIG. 4illustrates an example method of identifying a group of users to receivea media content offer according to one or more illustrative aspects ofthe disclosure. A group of users may be defined by one or more factors.For example, a group of users may be defined geographically. Inparticular, a group of users may include users connected to a particularcentral office 103 (e.g., a headend) or group of central offices 103. Instep 401, if the server determines that the group of users is definedgeographically, the server, in step 402, identifies a geographical areaand identifies all users located in the identified geographical area aspart of the group of users to receive a media content offer. In step412, the server stores, in one or more data storage locations, the groupof users identified by geography. Additionally, the server may storeinformation identifying each user identified as part of the group ofusers.

A group of users may be defined, for example, by membership in a socialmedia group such as a PLAXO™, FACEBOOK™, etc., social group or friendslist. In step 403, if the server determines that the group of users isdefined by status as part of a social media group, the server, in step404, may communicate with one or more social media servers to determineand obtain information on users that are part of one or more socialmedia groups. As a non-limiting example, the content server 106 maycommunicate with a FACEBOOK™ server to identify individuals that arepart of a FACEBOOK™ group or individuals that are “friends” with aparticular subscriber and obtain contact information for theseindividuals. In step 405, the server may identify users party to one ormore social media groups as part of the group of users to receive amedia content offer. In step 412, the server may store, in one or moredata storage locations, information identifying the group of usersidentified by a social media group. Additionally, the server may storeinformation identifying each user identified as part of the group ofusers. Furthermore, the server need not communicate with a social mediaserver. For example, a server may have previously stored informationidentifying individuals party to one or more social media groups.

A group of users may also be defined, for example, based on userpreferences. In step 406, the server may determine preferences for aplurality of users and store these preferences in one or more datastorage locations. User preferences may be based on one or more factors.For example, user preferences may be predetermined. A predetermined userpreference may be a preference preselected by a user. For example, eachuser may be given the opportunity to preselect his or her one or morefavorite genre of media content. As a non-limiting example, movie andtelevision genres may include crime, adventure, comedy, coming-of-age,mystery, action, epic, romance, horror, fantasy, thriller, and sciencefiction. A group may be defined as including all users who haveidentified a particular genre, such as crime, as their favorite genre.Different groups can be defined for different genres.

User preferences may also be based on users' viewing habits. Forexample, a server may store or have previously stored information on theuser's previously viewed, stored, purchased, or downloaded content. Thiscontent may include media previously consumed as a result of a priormedia content offer, as on demand video, as digitally recorded video, asvideo stored on recordable media (e.g., DVD, Blu-ray, videotapecassette, etc.), as linear television, and as other content. Userpreferences may also depend on other actions taken by a user (e.g.,saved content searches, content saved to a view/consumption queue,etc.).

User preferences may also depend on media content consumed by anotheruser. For example, a user's preference may depend on media contentconsumed by or recommended by one of the user's social media “friends.”User preferences may further be defined from external sources, such associal media. For example, a social media server may transmit userpreferences or other information associated with a particular user to acontent server 106.

After the server 106 determines and stores preferences for a pluralityof users, the server 106 may determine whether the media content offermatches preferences for one or more users or groups. In general, theserver identifies users with preferences that match the media contentoffer as part of the group of users to receive a media content offer.Transmitting offers based on user preferences may increase likelihood ofoffer acceptances. In step 407, if a media content offer includes atheme or genre, the server may identify users having preferences thatmatch the theme or genre of the media content offer, in step 408. Instep 409, the server may determine whether to define a group of usersbased on user preferences. If so, in step 410, the server may identifyusers having preferences that match the media content offer as part ofthe group of users to receive a media content offer. In step 412, theserver stores, in one or more data storage locations, the group ofusers. Additionally, the server may store information identifying eachuser identified as part of the group of users.

In step 411, if the server determines that no particular group of usersshould be targeted with the offer, the server may identify all users aspart of the group of users to receive a media content offer. Users mayinclude, but are not limited to, users registered with the contentserver 106, a service provided by the content server 106, an entity thatowns or operates the content server 106 or an entity that owns oroperates a service associated with the content server 106. In step 412,the server stores, in one or more data storage locations, the group ofusers. Additionally, the server may store information identifying eachuser identified as part of the group of users.

In some embodiments, the server may also identify potential users (e.g.,individuals interested in, but not yet customers of a service provider)as the group of users to receive a media content offer to entice thepotential users to become customers. In other embodiments, the servermay identify new users as the group to receive a media content offer.New users may include, for example, new subscribers of any of a serviceproviders services, first time users of the service provider's website,etc. In other embodiments, the server may identify the group to receivea media content offer by a user's level of engagement with a serviceprovider's services or tools, such as services or tools offered on theservice provider's website.

Reference is now given to FIG. 3B. In step 312, the server storesinformation related to the media content offer after identifying a groupof users to receive a media content offer. The information may beinformation needed to frame a media content offer. For example, theserver may store the media content or information identifying thecontent, the time of release, a minimum number of acceptances needed,and a discount price for the media content.

In step 313, the server determines whether an offer is a selection-typeoffer. Whether an offer is a selection-type offer may be indicated, forexample, in the transmitted data structure from a content supplier(e.g., step 301). In a selection-type offer, a plurality of mediacontent may be offered to recipients. The server may track the number ofselections (e.g., votes) received for each media content included in theplurality of media content offered to recipients. Assuming that thenumber of selections for a particular media content has exceeded thenumber required, the media content receiving the most selections may betransmitted to part of or all of the recipients.

If the offer is a selection-type offer, the server, in step 314, mayadditionally store, in one or more data storage locations, media contentor information identifying media content for one or more additionalmedia content to be selected. Furthermore, the server may create aselection counter for each media content to be selected, each selectioncounter tracking the number of selections for a corresponding mediacontent. The server may also store an indicator indicating the time anddate that selection ends. Processing by the server for receivingselections for a selection-type offer will further be described belowwith respect to FIG. 5.

In step 315, the server may determine whether discount tiers exist. Ifso, the server, in step 316, may additionally store, in one or more datastorage locations, one or more discount tiers, a corresponding discountfor each of the one or more discount tiers and a minimum number ofacceptances by end users and content consumers needed for each discounttier. For example, the server may store as discount prices, $6corresponding to 800 selections and $7 corresponding to 500 selections,in a double tier discount offer.

In step 317, the server may wait to transmit an offer. For example, whena time to transmit an offer has arrived, the server, in step 318, maytransmit the offer to users identified as the group of users. The offermay be transmitted, for example, to a user's gateway 111, or other userdevices, such as televisions 112, additional STBs 113, personalcomputers 114, laptop computers 115, wireless devices 116 (wirelesslaptops and netbooks, mobile phones, mobile televisions, personaldigital assistants (PDA), etc.), and any other desired devices. Theserver may, for example, transmit the offer via email by communicatingwith a user's email server, which in turn communicates with one or moreend-user devices. Alternatively, the server may transmit the offerthrough a website operated by the content server 106, a service providedby the content server 106, an entity that owns or operates the contentserver 106 or an entity that owns or operates a service associated withthe content server 106. In this example, users may view the offer on thewebsite. In other embodiments, a user may have previously identified apreferred means of receiving offers. The server may transmit the offervia the preferred means (e.g., via email if the user indicated apreference for email).

After transmitting one or more offers, the server may begin processingacceptances. Processing acceptances for selection-type offers may differfrom processing for non-selection-type offers. Therefore, in step 319,the server may determine whether the transmitted offer is aselection-type offer. If the offer is a selection-type offer, theserver, in step 320, performs processing for a selection-type offer.Processing for a selection-type offer will be described further withrespect to the description of FIG. 5. If the offer is not aselection-type offer, the server may process acceptances in the mannershown in FIG. 3C.

In step 321, the server determines whether an acceptance has beenreceived from a user. An acceptance may be of any form that generallyindicates acquiescence to the offer transmitted by the server. Forexample, receiving payment from a user may indicate an acceptance.Furthermore, the server may cause a payment to occur once it receivespayment, such as charging a credit card issuer or removing anappropriate amount from a user's bank account. In this example, theserver may need to credit back the user's credit card account or bankaccount if there are an insufficient number of acceptances. Instead ofproviding payment, the user may provide payment information to theserver. The server may store the payment information, but might notcharge the user unless a predetermined number of users have accepted themedia content offer. The predetermined number of acceptances may, forexample, be the same as the number needed for the time of release to bevalid. The server may use holding tanks or locking mechanisms to preventcharges until enough users accept the offer.

An acceptance need not be payment or payment information. Anacceptor-user may transmit a message to the server indicating anacceptance. The message may be transmitted, for example, by clicking an“acceptance” box displayed in an offer message. The acceptance messagemay be transmitted in a manner similar to the transmission of the offer.For example, an acceptor-user may input an acceptance into an end-userdevice, including televisions 112, additional STBs 113, personalcomputers 114, laptop computers 115, wireless devices 116 (wirelesslaptops and netbooks, mobile phones, mobile televisions, personaldigital assistants (PDA), etc.), and any other desired devices. Theserver receives the acceptance from an end-user device. In someembodiments, a user clicking an acceptance box might cause the user tobe associated with the content, such as reserving the content for theuser or placing an identifier of the user (e.g., name, customer ID,email address, etc.) in a list of users that have accepted an offer.

If an offer includes multiple times of release, an acceptance messagefrom an acceptor-user may further include acceptance of all of the timesof release or a subset of the times of release. As a non-limitingexample, an offer may include five times of release. In an acceptancemessage, a user may indicate acceptance of all five times of release,conditioned on the total number of acceptances from a group ofrecipients reaching a threshold number of acceptances for each time ofrelease. Alternatively, the user may indicate acceptance of a subset ofthe five times of release (e.g., three out of the five times ofrelease). Therefore, allowing users to select all or a subset of themultiple times of release gives users flexibility in viewing the offeredcontent at a convenient time.

Acceptances may also be indicated or transmitted through third partyservice providers. For example, one or more content or offers forcontent may be indicated or displayed at a third party serviceprovider's, such as a social media provider (e.g., PLAXO™, FACEBOOK™,etc.), website or application. A user may accept an offer for content byindicating interest in the content or offer for content on the socialmedia provider's website or application, such as by clicking a “like”button corresponding to a message or posting about the content or offerfor content. Subsequently, the acceptance may be transmitted from thethird party service provider, such as through a web server used by thethird party, to a server providing an offer or content to users, such asone of servers 105-107.

In step 322, the server may store an acceptor-user's information in oneor more storage locations. Information stored may include one or more ofan acceptance, payment information, information identifying theacceptor-user, and information identifying an end-user device the userintends to consume the media content on. The end-user device may, butneed not, be the same device that receives an offer or transmits anacceptance. Additionally, the user may transmit information identifyinga different end-user device to consume the media content on. As anon-limiting example, the user may transmit an acceptance message from aPC, but indicate that the user intends to consume the media on atelevision connected to a set-top box.

In step 323, the server stores the acceptance in one or more storagelocations. For example, the server may increment a number of acceptancesby one each time an acceptance is received. The server may alsoincrement a number of acceptances by a different number (e.g., two orthree) based on, for example, a content offer received from a contentsupplier, in step 301. For example, an offer received from the contentsupplier may indicate that an acceptance by a particular class of users(e.g., users that have previously accepted an offer for content suppliedby the same content supplier) may count as two acceptances.

In step 324, the server may determine whether a time of release istiered. As previously described, the time of release may vary based onone or more factors, including the number of end users or contentconsumers that have accepted an offer. As a non-limiting example, thetime of release may be earlier for more acceptances received.

If the time of release is not tiered, the server, in step 329, comparesthe number of acceptances to the minimum number of acceptances neededfor the time of release to be valid. If the number of acceptances equalsor exceeds, for example, the minimum number, the server, in step 330,may transmit to the group of users a message indicating that the time ofrelease is valid. Alternatively, the server may send the message only toa specific group of individuals, such as acceptors or non-acceptors. Thetransmitted message may include additional information, such as detailsfor how acceptors may redeem and/or consume the media content.

If the time of release is tiered, the server, in step 325, compares thenumber of acceptances to one or more predetermined tiered time ofrelease thresholds, the thresholds each being a number of acceptancesneeded for each time of release tier. As a non-limiting example, in athree tier time of release embodiment, 1,200 acceptances may be neededfor a time of release of July 1^(st), 800 for July 3^(rd), and 500 forJuly 5^(th). Generally, the server will first determine whether a numberof acceptances for the earliest time of release (e.g., July 1^(st)) hasbeen reached. If a number of acceptances required for the earliest timeof release has been reached, the server may set the time of release tothe earliest time of release (e.g., July 1^(st)). If a number for theearliest time of release has not been reached, the server may determinewhether a number of acceptances for the next earliest time of release(e.g., July 3^(rd)) has been reached. If a number of acceptancesrequired for the next earliest time of release has been reached, theserver may set the time of release to the next earliest time of release.Any number of tiered times of release thresholds is possible, and theserver may check any remaining thresholds in a similar manner.

After determining that at least one of the thresholds for a tiered timeof release has been matched and/or exceeded, the server, in step 326,may store in one or more storage locations the tiered time of release asthe time of release. For example, the server may store the earliest timeof release as the time of release for a corresponding number ofacceptances.

In step 327, the server may determine whether a predetermined time priorto the tiered time of release or the tiered time of release has passed.A predetermined time prior to the tiered time of release may be used toprovide acceptor-users sufficient notice of the release date or date oftransmission of the media content. Alternatively, the server may checkwhether a predetermined time or a particular deadline has passed. Apredetermined time or deadline may be set prior to a release date ortransmission of the offer.

If the server determines that a predetermined time or tiered time ofrelease has not passed, the server, in step 328, may transmit to thegroup of users a message indicating that a particular tiered time ofrelease is now valid. Alternatively, the server may send the message toa particular group, such as acceptors and/or non-acceptors. Thetransmitted message may also indicate the time of release based on acurrent number of acceptances. The transmitted message may furtherindicate a number of acceptances needed to reach the next earliest timeof release or any other earlier time of release. The message may furtherindicate to non-acceptors that a deadline to accept the offer has notpassed.

If the server determines that a predetermined time or tiered time ofrelease has passed, the server, in step 332, may transmit to the groupof group of users a message indicating that the time of release isvalid. Alternatively, the server may send the message to a particulargroup, such as acceptors and/or non-acceptors. The transmitted messagemay also indicate the time of release based on a current number ofacceptances.

In step 331, the server determines whether a time of release, apredetermined time prior to a time of release, or a fixed deadline haspassed. If not, the server may continue to process acceptances receivedfrom users until a time of release, a predetermined time prior to a timeof release, or a fixed deadline has passed.

In step 333, after a window to keep the media content offer open hasclosed, the server determines whether the number of acceptances hasmatched or exceeded a minimum number of acceptances needed. If thenumber of acceptances is less than a minimum number of acceptancesneeded, the server, in step 340, may cancel the offer. After cancelingthe offer, the server may transmit a message to the group of users,acceptors, non-acceptors, or a combination thereof indicating that theoffer has been canceled. The message may also indicate the number ofacceptances needed or the number of additional acceptances needed, suchas when the number is small. Instead of canceling the offer, the servermay transmit a secondary offer to the group of users, acceptors,non-acceptors, or a combination thereof. The secondary offer may besimilar to the first offer, e.g., require a minimum number ofacceptances, include discount tiers, etc. The secondary offer may alsobe different from the first offer. For example, the secondary offermight not require a minimum number of acceptances.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example method of processing a content offeraccording to one or more illustrative aspects of the disclosure. Forexample, if the server determines at step 319 that the offer is aselection-type offer, the server may perform the steps shown in FIG. 5.

In step 501, the server may enable users (e.g., original recipients)that have received a media content offer to forward the offer to otherusers who did not receive the initial offer message. Such other usersmay be associated with an original recipient in one or more ways. Forexample, other users and an original recipient may be part of the samesocial media group, professional group, or affinity group. The otherusers may also be on the original recipient's email list. The otherusers, however, need not be associated with the original recipient inthe above-described ways and may be associated with an originalrecipient in any way. The server may also limit the number of otherusers that may receive a forwarded offer. For example, the server mayallow an original recipient to forward an offer to up to a predeterminednumber of other users. The server may also limit the content thatanother user may select. For example, the server may allow other usersto select only media content selected by the inviting originalrecipient. Original recipients may use an end-user device, such astelevisions 112, additional STBs 113, personal computers 114, laptopcomputers 115, wireless devices 116 (wireless laptops and netbooks,mobile phones, mobile televisions, personal digital assistants (PDA),etc.), and any other desired devices, to forward the offer.

In step 502, the server determines whether a selection from a user (orinvited other user) has been received. A selection may be of any formthat generally indicates acquiescence to an offer transmitted by theserver. Similar to step 321, a selection may be payment, providingpayment information, or a message indicating acceptance transmitted byan end-user device. Additionally, in a selection-type offer, anacceptance message may be transmitted by clicking a “select” orequivalent box (e.g., check box, radio button, drop-down list,push-button, or other graphical user interface element) displayed in theoffer message. Selection-type offers may also include a voting featurewhere a user selects one or more content by voting for the one or morecontent. For example, an offer transmitted to the user (e.g., in step318 or step 501) may include “vote for” boxes for each content offered.In this example, an acceptance message may be transmitted by the userclicking the “vote for” box for one or more of the offered content.

In step 503, the server may store a selector's information in one ormore storage locations. Information stored may include one or more of aselection, payment information, information identifying the selector andinformation identifying an end-user device the user intends to use toconsume the media content. The end-user device may, but need not, be thesame device that the user uses to transmit a selection message. The usermay also transmit information identifying a different consumptiondevice. As a non-limiting example, the user may transmit an acceptancemessage from a PC, but indicate that the media will be consumed using atelevision connected to a set-top box.

In step 504, the server may store the selection in one or more storagelocations. For example, the server may increment a number of selectionsby one each time a selection is received for a particular media content.

In step 505, the server may compare the number of selections for atleast one media content to the minimum number of acceptances needed fora time of release to be valid. If the number of selections equals orexceeds the minimum number, the server, in step 506, may transmit to thegroup of users and/or invited other users a message indicating that thetime of release is valid. Alternatively, the server may send the messageto a particular group, such as selectors or non-selectors. Thetransmitted message may include additional information, such as detailsfor how selectors may redeem and/or consume the media content.

In step 507, the server may determine whether a time of release, apredetermined time prior to the time of release, or a fixed deadline haspassed. If not, the server may continue to process received selectionsuntil a time of release, a predetermined time prior to the time ofrelease, or a fixed deadline has passed. Additionally, the server, instep 508, may transmit to the group of users and invited other users amessage indicating a current number of selections for each media contentand/or a time left to select media content.

In step 509, after a window to keep open an offer has closed, the serverdetermines whether the number of selections for one or more mediacontent has matched or exceeded a minimum number of acceptances needed.If the number of selections is lower than the minimum number ofacceptances needed, the server, in step 516, may cancel the offer. Aftercanceling the offer, the server may transmit a message to the group ofusers, invited other users, selectors, non-selectors, or a combinationthereof indicating that the offer has been canceled. The message mayalso indicate the number of selections needed or the number ofadditional selections needed for one or more media content, such as whenthe number is small. Instead of canceling the offer, the server maytransmit a secondary offer to the group of users, invited other users,acceptors, non-acceptors, or a combination thereof. The secondary offermay be similar to the first offer, e.g., require a minimum number ofacceptances, include discount tiers, etc. The secondary offer may alsobe different from the first offer. For example, the secondary offermight not require a minimum number of acceptances.

If the number of selections for one or more media content has matched orexceeded a minimum number required, the server, in step 510, maydetermine whether there are any tie selections for two or more mediacontent. In step 511, a virtual coin flip, for example, may be performedto break any ties. Any other method known in the art may be used tobreak the tie. For example, the server may perform a vote-off among tiedmedia content. The vote-off, for example, may allow all selectors tovote for one of the tied media content. A vote-off may last apredetermined amount of time. Alternatively, the server may extend thetime period to keep the offer open for a predetermined amount of timeand allow more selections to be cast. In step 512, the server may store,in one or more data storage locations, the winning media content orinformation identifying the winning media content. In step 513, theserver may store, in one or more data storage locations, the losingmedia content(s) or information identifying the losing media content(s).

In step 514, the server may convert each selection for the winning mediacontent into an acceptance. In one embodiment, a user may simultaneouslyselect and accept (e.g., pay for) the media content, in which case theserver might not need to perform step 514. In another embodiment, a usermay select a media content. Then, after a winning media content has beendetermined by the server, the user may be allowed to accept (e.g., payfor) the media content. In this embodiment, the server may convert theselection into an acceptance once the selector provides payment orpayment information. Similar to step 321, an acceptance may be of anyform that generally indicates acquiescence to an offer (e.g., payment,payment information, acceptance message).

In step 515, the server may transmit an offer to users that selected oneof the losing media content(s), including an option to accept an offerfor the winning media content at a predetermined price. Thepredetermined discount price may be the same or higher than a discountprice paid by the users that selected the winning media content.

Reference is now given to FIG. 3D. In step 334, the server may determineif discount tiers exist. In step 335, if discount tiers exist, theserver may determine which tier the offer falls under by comparing thenumber of acceptances to the number required for each discount tier. Theserver then stores, in one or more storage locations, the pricecorresponding to the correct discount tier based on the number ofacceptances as the media content discount price.

In step 336, the server may determine if the time of release, whetherfixed or tiered, has arrived. For example, step 336 may allow the serverto wait until the appropriate time to make the media content availableto the acceptor-users. In step 337, after the time of release haspassed, the server may make the media content available to theacceptor-users, such as by transmitting the content to acceptor-users,storing the content at the server or at a user device, or otherwiseallowing acceptor-users to instantly access or access at a later timethe media content. Media content may be transmitted to acceptor-usersusing, for example, a unicast for each acceptor-user or a multicast forall acceptor-users. Media content may also be transmitted toacceptor-users by transmitting one or more video on demand sessionscontaining the media content. For example, the server may transmit oneor more video on demand sessions having a theatrical release movie. Asdescribed in the examples above, the video on demand session may betransmitted at any time. For example, a video on demand session may betransmitted on the release night of a theatrical release movie.Furthermore, the time of transmission may correspond to a theatricalrelease time of a theatrical release movie. As another example, a videoon demand session may be transmitted, either wholly or partly, prior tothe release time of a theatrical release movie. For example, a video ondemand session may be fully transmitted prior to the theatrical releasetime, or a video on demand session may only be partially transmitted atthe theatrical release time.

In step 338, the users may consume the received media content using oneor more end-user devices. End-user devices include, but are not limitedto, televisions 112, additional STBs 113, personal computers 114, laptopcomputers 115, wireless devices 116 (wireless laptops and netbooks,mobile phones, mobile televisions, personal digital assistants (PDA),etc.), and any other desired devices. Furthermore, users may have apredetermined window to consume content. As a non-limiting example, ifthe time of release is prior to the theatrical release date of a movie(e.g., within a week prior to a theatrical release date), the viewingwindow may extend from the time of release to the theatrical releasedate of the movie or a predetermined time prior to or after thetheatrical release date of the movie. As another non-limiting example,the viewing window may extend from a theatrical release date of themovie to a predetermined time thereafter. The viewing window may alsoextend, for example, from a predetermined time prior to the theatricalrelease to a predetermined time after the theatrical release of themovie. One having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that theviewing window need not be defined with respect to a theatrical release.As a non-limiting example, the viewing window may depend on a DVDrelease date of a movie, in a similar manner as previously explainedwith respect to a theatrical release date.

Furthermore, as previously recognized, the media content need not be amovie. Rather, media content include, but are not limited to, audiocontent, video content, audiovisual content, and other data content.Examples of audio content include, but are not limited to, recorded,streaming, or live music, book recordings, live or recorded lectures,audio content extracted from audiovisual content, etc. Examples of videocontent include, but are not limited to, movies, television shows,lectures, concerts, operas, etc. In particular, movie content may, forexample, include a theatrical release of a movie, a DVD release of amovie, a video on demand (VOD) release of a movie, and an online ondemand release of a movie.

Instead of a viewing window, users may be required to consume the mediacontent when it is sent or at a predetermined time or forfeit a right toconsume the content. For example, users may be required to view thecontent on the theatrical release date of a movie. In any of thepreviously described examples, users may be limited by the number oftimes they may consume the media. The number of times may, but need not,be defined by whether the media content was purchased, rented, or acombination thereof. For example, in the example of a rental, the usermay be limited to a single or other predetermined number of viewingtimes. In the example of a purchase, the user may generally view thecontent an unlimited number of times. In the example of a hybridpurchase/rental, the user may be required to pay a rental fee each timethe user views the content, but is not otherwise limited by the numberof viewing times. As a non-limiting example, in a hybridpurchase/rental, the user may be required to “purchase” the content at afixed price, such as $4, and pay a “rental fee,” such as $0.50, for eachviewing.

Additionally, in each of the previous examples (e.g., purchase, rental,hybrid), users may be limited to a time window for transmission and/orconsumption for retransmitted media content. For example, users may beallowed an unlimited number of views within a predetermined and fixedtime window (e.g., unlimited views from time of release to one weekthereafter). As another non-limiting example, users may be allowed alimited number of views within a predetermined and fixed time window(e.g., 3 views from time of release to one week thereafter). Similarly,the start time of a time window for retransmission and/or re-consumptionneed not be fixed. As a non-limiting example, a start time of a timewindow may be at the first instance of consumption (e.g., first viewingof media content). Furthermore, the time window may extend from a starttime of a tiered time window to a predetermined time thereafter (e.g.,time window extends from first viewing of media content to one weekthereafter).

Similar to discount and time of release tiers, the time window fortransmission and/or consumption and the number of views may depend onthe number of acceptances. For example, users may be given a larger timewindow for transmission and/or consumption the greater the number ofacceptances. As another example, users may be given a greater number ofviews the greater the number of acceptances.

The server may also detect and store the number of times one or moreusers has accessed media content (e.g., number of transmissions,retransmissions, consumptions, re-consumptions, etc.), for example, whenthe media content is rented. An access number may be the number of timesone or more users has accessed the media content within a predeterminedtime window, such as a time window for retransmitting and/orre-consuming content. If one or more users has accessed the content morethan a predetermined number of times, the server may transmit an offermessage to the one or more users for purchasing a copy of the mediacontent. The offer message may also include, for example, a purchaseprice for a copy of the media content.

In another embodiment, the server may allow users to view thetransmitted content together as, for example, a temporary viewing groupthat may be formed for the purpose of a single viewing of the content(e.g., an early release viewing), and which can be disbanded after theviewing. The users of the temporary viewing group may be associated withone another. For example, the users may be associated with one anotherin any manner previously described with respect to FIG. 4 (e.g.,geography, social media, genre, user preferences, etc.). Users may beassociated with one another in any other way, including, but not limitedto membership in a professional or affinity group. The server mayreceive a request from one or more users requesting formation of thetemporary viewing group. In response to the request, the server maygroup users into the requested temporary viewing group. Alternatively,the server may transmit messages to users identified as members of thetemporary viewing group requesting permission to be added to a temporaryviewing group. The identified users may then be given an opportunity(e.g., within a predetermined time window) to accept or decline additionto the temporary viewing group. After a temporary viewing group has beenformed, the server may simultaneously transmit the media content tomembers of the temporary viewing group, such as in a multicasttransmission. During viewing by the temporary viewing group, users maycontrol playback navigation of the media content. Furthermore, playbackcontrol by one member of the temporary viewing group may be shared withviewing devices of other members of the group. As a non-limitingexample, if a member of the group pauses playback of media content,playback may additionally be paused for all other members of the group.Shared playback control may, but need not, be provided to all members ofthe group. For example, the server may provide playback control to fewerthan all of the members of the group.

In step 339, the server may transmit additional discounts and/or offersto the users. These additional discounts and/or offers may includeoffers to purchase a copy of the media content, discounts for consumingthe media content a second time, discounts for future offers, monetarydiscounts, and/or discounts for other content or services offered by theserver. The discount and/or offer may also include a discount on one ormore of the losing media content in the selection-type offers. Thediscounts and/or offers may be transmitted to the users at any time. Forexample, discounts and/or offers may be transmitted prior to, during, orafter consumption of the media content. Transmission of discounts and/oroffers may also be conditioned on the user taking action. As anon-limiting example, discounts and/or offers may require a user toadvertise the media content delivery service or media content on socialmedia. The server may verify that the media content or media contentdelivery service was advertised. Discounts and/or offers may alsorequire a user to get one or more other users to register with the mediacontent delivery service.

The various features described above are merely non-limiting examples,and can be rearranged, combined, subdivided, omitted, and/or altered inany desired manner. For example, features of the server 106 can besubdivided among multiple processors and computing devices. The truescope of this patent should only be defined by the claims that follow.

We claim:
 1. A content delivery method, comprising: receiving, by aserver, information identifying an item of media content; receivinginformation identifying a time of release for the item of media contentand a corresponding minimum number of acceptances required for the timeof release to be valid; prior to the time of release, receivingacceptance messages from a plurality of users, the acceptance messagesindicating that corresponding users desire access to the item of mediacontent at the time of release for the item of media content; and inresponse to determining that a number of the acceptance messages has metor exceeded the minimum number of acceptances required, making availablefor transmission one or more media streams containing the item of mediacontent to the corresponding users.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe item of media content is a theatrical release of a movie, and theone or more media streams are one or more video on demand sessionscarrying the movie.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or morevideo on demand sessions are made available for transmission prior tothe theatrical release date of the movie.
 4. The method of claim 2,wherein the one or more video on demand sessions is a multicast videosession, and is made available for transmission within a week prior tothe theatrical release date.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving information identifying a group pricing discountfor the item of media content, wherein the information identifying agroup pricing discount identifies a plurality of group discount tiers,each tier including a different minimum number of acceptances andcorresponding discount.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprisinggrouping, in response to a first user's request, a subset of theacceptances into a media content temporary viewing group for the firstuser, the temporary viewing group including a plurality of other userswho are associated with the first user via a social networking service.7. The method of claim 6, wherein making available for transmission theitem of media content includes making available for transmission amulticast transmission to members of the temporary viewing group, andwherein playback navigation controls by one member of the group areshared with viewing devices of other members of the group during themulticast transmission.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprisingmaking available for retransmission the item of media content to one ormore of the users after making available for transmission, and limitingusers to a time window for retransmissions.
 9. The method of claim 8,further comprising determining a number of times a first user hasaccessed the item of media content during the time window, and inresponse to the first user accessing the item of media content more thana first predetermined minimum retransmission amount during the timewindow, transmitting an offer message to the first user for purchasing acopy of the item of media content.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinthe information identifying the time of release includes informationidentifying multiple times of release, each time of releasecorresponding to a different minimum number of acceptances.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, wherein prior to receiving acceptance messages, themethod further comprises: determining that one or more preferences forone of the plurality of users matches the item of media content; andtransmitting to the plurality of users an offer message for the time ofrelease.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more preferencescomprises at least one of a genre preselected by the user, a genre of anitem of media content previously purchased or viewed by the user, andone or more preferences derived from a social media account associatedwith the user.
 13. A method, comprising: transmitting to a plurality ofusers a message containing an offer for a video item; storing acriterion value identifying a minimum number of accepting users for thevideo item; and if a number of accepting users exceeds the minimum,initiating a video on demand session to accepting users, the sessionrelating to the offered video item.
 14. The method of claim 13, whereinthe offered video item is a theatrical release movie, and initiating thevideo on demand session further comprises initiating transmission of thetheatrical release movie on the theatrical release movie's release date.15. The method of claim 13, wherein the storing comprises storing aplurality of distinct times of release and minimum number of acceptingusers needed for the corresponding time of release to be valid.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein a first time of release corresponds to afirst minimum number of accepting users, and a second time of releaseearlier than the first time of release corresponds to a second minimumnumber of accepting users greater than the first minimum number ofaccepting users.
 17. One or more non-transitory computer readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to: receiveinformation identifying an item of media content; receive informationidentifying a time of release for the item of media content and acorresponding minimum number of acceptances required for the time ofrelease to be valid; prior to the time of release, receive acceptancemessages from a plurality of users, the acceptance messages indicatingthat corresponding users desire access to the item of media content atthe time of release for the item of media content; and in response todetermining that a number of the acceptance messages has met or exceededthe minimum number of acceptances required, make available fortransmission one or more media streams containing the item of mediacontent to the corresponding users.
 18. The one or more non-transitorycomputer readable media of claim 17 further storing instructions that,when executed, cause the processor to: receive information identifying agroup pricing discount for the item of media content, wherein theinformation identifying a group pricing discount identifies a pluralityof group discount tiers, each tier including a different minimum numberof acceptances and corresponding discount.
 19. The one or morenon-transitory computer readable media of claim 17, wherein theinformation identifying the time of release includes informationidentifying multiple times of release, each time of releasecorresponding to a different minimum number of acceptances.
 20. The oneor more non-transitory computer readable media of claim 19, furtherstoring instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to:identify, in a single acceptance message, a plurality of responsescorresponding to the multiple times of release.